Loading pallet

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a loading pallet made of metal, comprising an elongate upper portion composed of profiles ( 1 ) which run in substantially the longitudinal direction of the pallet and constitute a load surface, profiles ( 2 ) which run on the underside thereof in substantially the transverse direction of the pallet in order to hold together the load surface profiles running in the longitudinal direction of the pallet, spacers ( 4 ) disposed on the underside of respective holding-together profiles running in the transverse direction of the pallet, and profiles ( 5 ) binding together the spacers, at opposite ends thereof, in substantially the longitudinal direction of the pallet, which profiles each have, running in substantially the longitudinal direction of the pallet, a bearing surface ( 6 ) for placing the pallet on a substrate. To ensure that it has the necessary strength and resistance even in its transverse direction, the loading pallet according to the present invention also comprises one or more reinforcing profiles ( 11 ) each disposed between two holding-together profiles ( 2 ) which run in the transverse direction of the pallet.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a loading pallet made of metal and comprising an elongate upper portion composed of profiles which run in substantially the longitudinal direction of the pallet and constitute a load surface, profiles which run on the underside thereof in substantially the transverse direction of the pallet in order to hold together the load surface profiles running in the longitudinal direction, spacers disposed on the underside of respective holding-together profiles running in the transverse direction, and profiles binding together the spacers, at opposite ends thereof, in substantially the longitudinal direction of the pallet, each of which latter profiles has, running in substantially the longitudinal direction of the pallet, a bearing surface for placing the pallet on a substrate.

Metal loading pallets exist in a plurality of different versions.

Those known loading pallets are substantially not constructed in the same way as conventional loading pallets made of wood. The advantage of such conventional pallets is, inter alia, that much of the equipment for the handling of loading pallets is adapted to and depends on the pallet being of precisely the same layout as a conventional pallet made of wood. Wooden loading pallets are approximately dimensioned and are relatively insensitive to stresses even in the transverse direction of the pallet. In contrast, a metal loading pallet is, owing to the nature of its constituent parts, more sensitive to stresses in its transverse direction, nor is the configuration of its structure always optimum for handling in, for example, automatic warehouses for loading pallets.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is therefore to propose a loading pallet which is made of metal and has the necessary strength and resistance even in its transverse direction, and a loading pallet which can be handled even in automatic warehouses for conventional types of loading pallet. The pallet has also to be easy to assemble and to dismantle for transport, storage, etc. when it is not to be used. The pallet has also to be flexible in its configuration to allow it to be handled by several different kinds of lifting means.

To this end, the loading pallet according to the present invention comprises not only what is indicated above but also primarily one or more reinforcing profiles each disposed between two holding-together profiles running in the transverse direction of the pallet.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art who studies the attached drawings and the following detailed description of preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view from above of a loading pallet according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from below of the loading pallet according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view from above of the loading pallet according to FIG. 1 provided with a pallet surround.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view from below of the loading pallet with pallet surround according to FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The loading pallet depicted in the drawings is a loading pallet made of metal. Using metal makes it possible for the constituent parts of the pallet to be made thinner, thereby reducing the weight of the pallet. The weight can be halved by using, for example, thin sheetmetal.

The pallet is configured in substantially the same way as a conventional pallet made of wood. The pallet thus comprises a number of profiles 1, in the version depicted five profiles, which constitute a load surface and in this case run in substantially the longitudinal direction of the pallet. The load surface profiles 1 are held together by a number of profiles 2, in the version depicted three profiles, which run in substantially the transverse direction of the pallet. These holding-together profiles 2 are disposed on the underside of the load surface profiles 1, e.g. they are fastened to the latter by riveting. Two of the holding-together profiles 2 run along respective short sides of the pallet and the third runs centrally between them from one long side of the pallet to the other. The load surface profiles 1 and the holding-together profiles 2 constitute the pallet's upper portion which in the version depicted is surrounded by a peripheral profile 3 anchored to it in a suitable manner.

Spacers 4 are disposed on the underside of each holding-together profile 2. The number of spacers 4 may vary. There needs to be at least one spacer 4 at each corner of the pallet, i.e. at least two spacers disposed on the underside of at least the two holding-together profiles 2 which run along the short sides of the pallet. In the version depicted, there are three spacers 4 on each holding-together profile 2, i.e. a total of nine spacers.

The respective spacers 4 are connected at opposite ends to a profile 5 which runs in the longitudinal direction of the pallet and binds the spacers together in substantially the longitudinal direction of the pallet. The profiles 5, which thus each have, running in substantially the longitudinal direction of the pallet, a bearing surface 6 for placing the pallet on a substrate, are three in number in the version depicted and each bind together at least two, in the version depicted three, spacers 4 in the longitudinal direction of the pallet. Two of the profiles 5 run along the respective long sides of the pallet, while the third runs centrally between them from one short side to the other.

The bearing surfaces 6 on the profiles 5 are suitably provided with a covering (not depicted), e.g. they are clad with sheet aluminium, which affords good friction relative to the substrate, is wear-resistant and protects the profiles, prevents sparking and is noise-damping.

A rigid structure is thus achieved in the transverse direction of the pallet by the spacers 4 being bound together by the holding-together profiles 2 and in the longitudinal direction of the pallet by the spacers 4 being bound together by the respective profiles 5 with bearing surface 6. It should also be noted that the spacers 4 are thus with advantage disposed at the intersection points between the load surface profiles 1 and the holding-together profiles 2.

The spacers 4 are each also, for example, detachably connected to the load surface profiles 1, to the holding-together profiles 2 and to the profiles 5 with bearing surfaces 6. The spacers 4 are thus detachably connected to the load surfaced profiles, the holding-together profiles 2 and the profiles 5 with bearing surfaces 6 by a bolted connection in the form of a bolt 7 which runs through the respective spacer and relating load surface profile 1 and holding-together profile 2 and a profile with bearing surface, and of a nut 8 which can be screwed firmly at the threaded free end of the bolt. The bolted connection in the version depicted is so arranged that it abuts against an underside 9 of the profile 5 with bearing surface 6, possibly being countersunk in a hole (not depicted) therein, runs through that profile, through the spacer 4 and through the holding-together profile 2 and the load surface profile 1 of the upper portion, and abuts against an upper side 10 of the load surface profile 1, possibly being countersunk in a hole 21 in that upper side. The pallet is thus effectively held together by said bolted connections, which also make quick and efficient dismantling of the pallet possible when it is not to be used, and similarly quick and efficient reassembly for resumption of use.

In the advantageous version of the invention depicted, at least the spacers 4 situated at the corners of the pallet are so configured that they are readable in automatic warehouses for loading pallets. The spacers 4 may be made of metal like other parts of the pallet, but may also be made of, for example, plastic. The spacers 4 may also vary in height, e.g. to allow access for different types of lifting means.

To further strengthen and stiffen the pallet structure, particularly in the transverse direction of the pallet, it also comprises one or more reinforcing profiles 11 each disposed between two holding-together profiles 2 running in the transverse direction of the pallet. In the version depicted, this means that there are two reinforcing profiles 11 on the underside of the upper portion. The reinforcing profiles 11 run substantially parallel with the holding-together profiles 2. They may alternatively run at an angle relative to the holding-together profiles 2, but not so great an angle as to impair their load-absorbing effect in the transverse direction of the pallet. The reinforcing profiles 11 and the load surface profiles 1 are, for example, fastened to one another by riveting.

The reinforcing profiles 11 have with advantage a covering (not depicted), e.g. sheetmetal or plates, on their underside. A lifting means, e.g. the fork of a fork truck, can be applied against this covering, e.g. plates made of soft aluminium. Covering in the form of sheet aluminium affords increased friction relative to the lifting means, provides excellent wear protection and is also noise-damping.

To simplify the process of manufacturing the pallet and at the same time make the pallet less expensive, the load surface profiles 1, the holding-together profiles 2 and the reinforcing profiles 11 may have the same cross-sectional shape. The profiling also helps to increase the strength and rigidity of the pallet. In the version depicted, however, each profile 5 with bearing surface 6 is provided with an elevation 12 running in the longitudinal direction of the pallet, e.g. an elevation running the whole length of the profile. This elevation 12 fits together with a corresponding hollow 13 in the respective spacers 4 so that the connection between the spacers 4 and the profiles 5 becomes optimum. The hollow 13 runs, for example, the whole length of the spacer 4. The underside of the elevation 12 constitutes at the same time said underside 9 of the profile 5 against which the bolted connection or, as in the version depicted, the nut 8 of the bolted connection abuts, so that no parts of the bolted connection protrude beyond the bearing surface 6 of the profile.

Correspondingly, the holding-together profiles 2 and the spacers 4 may have mutually fitting hollows and elevations for optimum resistance and strength at the connections between them and hence throughout the pallet structure (see FIGS. 2 and 4).

To further strengthen the pallet structure, the pallet also comprises, in an undepicted version, profiles which bind the spacers 4 together, at opposite ends thereof, in substantially the transverse direction of the pallet, which profiles each have, running in substantially the transverse direction of the pallet, a bearing surface for placing the loading pallet on a substrate. These binding-together profiles thus run parallel with the holding-together profiles 2 but on the opposite side of the respective spacers 4. The last-mentioned profiles also run substantially level with the profiles 5 with bearing surfaces 6, i.e. in the same plane as them, so that said profiles constitute a common bearing surface for placing the pallet on a substrate. They also serve to prevent the pallet from tilting if it is lifted at the short sides by, for example, a fork truck. To this end, the configuration of the profiles may vary and is therefore not described in more detail here. The last-mentioned profiles may also be, for example, fastened by riveting to the profiles 5 with bearing surfaces 6.

Finally, it should be noted that the pallet may be provided with brackets 14 for a pallet surround 15. These brackets 14 are depicted in FIG. 1, but the pallet surround 15 is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. As may be seen, the brackets 14 are placed with advantage at the corners of the pallet and may take the form of, for example, hollows in which locking elements 16 of hingelike portions 17 of the, for example, collapsible surround 15 are inserted and placed in a locking position. The pallet surround 15 may be supplemented by a bottom 18.

Loading pallets according to the present invention are stackable on top of one another. To facilitate this, each profile 5 with bearing surface 6 has on the respective side of the elevation 12 a protruding load surface portion 19. For stacking on top of another corresponding loading pallet, these portions 19 can be lowered into correspondingly shaped grooves 20 in the load surface profiles 1 of said other pallet. Said protruding portions 19 of respective profiles 5 with bearing surface 6 and said grooves 20 in respective load surface profiles 1 run, for example, the whole length of the respective profile.

To facilitate stacking of loading pallets according to the present invention on top of one another, it may also be of advantage to invert each depicted bolted connection as above so that the free threaded end of the bolt 7 and the nut 8 which cooperates with it will instead be on an upper side 10 of a load surface profile 1, being countersunk in one of the holes 21 therein, while the bolt head abuts against the underside 9 of a profile 5 with bearing surface 6, likewise being countersunk in a hole (not depicted).

It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that the present invention can be modified within the scope of the claims set out below without departing from the idea and object of the invention. Thus the number, shape and positioning of the loading pallet's constituent profiles 1, 2, 5 and 11, the spacers 4 and other parts may vary, depending largely on the size and purpose of the pallet. The manner in which the profiles and other parts of the pallet are connected to one another may also vary. 

1-19. (canceled)
 20. A loading pallet made of metal, comprising: an elongate upper portion composed of profiles (1) which run in substantially the longitudinal direction of the pallet and constitute a load surface, and of profiles (2) which run on the underside thereof in substantially the transverse direction of the pallet in order to hold together the load surface profiles running in the longitudinal direction of the pallet, spacers (4) disposed on the underside of respective holding-together profiles (2) running in the transverse direction of the pallet, and profiles (5) binding together the spacers (4), at opposite ends thereof, in substantially the longitudinal direction of the pallet, which profiles each have, running in substantially the longitudinal position of the pallet, a bearing surface (6) for placing the pallet on a substrate, wherein: the spacers (4) are each detachably connected to the load surface profiles (1), the holding-together profiles (2) and the profiles (5) with bearing surfaces (6) by a bolted connection, each spacer (4) and holding-together profile (2) have mutually fitting elevations (23) and hollows (22), each spacer (4) is provided with a hollow (13) fitting together with a corresponding elevation (12) on a profile (5) with bearing surface (6), and the bolted connection abuts an underside (9) of the elevation (12) of the profile (5) with bearing surface (6) such that no parts of said bolted connection protrude beyond said bearing surface.
 21. A loading pallet according to claim 20, wherein the bolted connection is composed of a bolt (7) running through the respective spacer (4) and relating load surface profile (1), holding-together profile (2) and a profile (5) with bearing surface (6), and of a nut (8) which can be screwed firmly at the threaded free end of the bolt.
 22. A loading pallet according to claim 20, wherein the bolted connection abuts against the underside (9) of the elevation (12) of, and runs through, the profile (5) with bearing surface (6), through the spacer (4) and through the holding-together profile (2) and the load surface profile (1) of the upper portion and abuts against an upper side (10) of the load surface profile.
 23. A loading pallet according to claim 20, wherein said hollow (13) of the spacer (4) runs the whole length of said spacer.
 24. A loading pallet according to claim 20, wherein said elevation (12) of the profile (5) with bearing surface (6) runs the whole length of said profile.
 25. A loading pallet according to claim 20, wherein each profile (5) with bearing surface (6) is also provided on the respective side of the elevation (12) with a protruding bearing surface portion (19) which, for stacking on top of another corresponding loading pallet, can be lowered into a correspondingly shaped groove (20) in the pallet's load surface profiles (1).
 26. A loading pallet according to claim 25, wherein said protruding portions (19) of each profile (5) with bearing surface (6) and said groove (20) in the respective load surface profile (1) run the whole length of the respective profile.
 27. A loading pallet according to claim 20, wherein the loading pallet also comprises one or more reinforcing profiles (11) each disposed between two holding-together profiles (2) which run in the transverse direction of the pallet.
 28. A loading pallet according to claim 27, wherein the respective reinforcing profiles (11) run substantially parallel with the holding-together profiles (2) running in the transverse direction of the pallet.
 29. A loading pallet according to claim 27, wherein the reinforcing profiles (11) and the load surface profiles (1) are fastened to one another by riveting.
 30. A loading pallet according to claim 27, wherein the reinforcing profiles (11) have on the underside a friction-enhancing covering against which lifting means can be applied when lifting the pallet.
 31. A loading pallet made of metal, comprising: an elongate upper portion composed of profiles (1) which run in substantially the longitudinal direction of the pallet and constitute a load surface, and of profiles (2) which run on the underside thereof in substantially the transverse direction of the pallet in order to hold together the load surface profiles running in the longitudinal direction of the pallet, spacers (4) disposed on the underside of respective holding-together profiles (2) running in the transverse direction of the pallet, and profiles (5) binding together the spacers (4), at opposite ends thereof, in substantially the longitudinal direction of the pallet, which profiles each have, running in substantially the longitudinal position of the pallet, a bearing surface (6) for placing the pallet on a substrate, wherein: the loading pallet also comprises one or more reinforcing profiles (11) each disposed between two holding-together profiles (2) which run in the transverse direction of the pallet, and the reinforcing profiles (11) have on the underside a friction-enhancing covering against which lifting means can be applied when lifting the pallet.
 32. A loading pallet according to claim 31, wherein the respective reinforcing profiles (11) run substantially parallel with the holding-together profiles (2) running in the transverse direction of the pallet.
 33. A loading pallet according to claim 31, wherein the reinforcing profiles (11) and the load surface profiles (1) are fastened to one another by riveting.
 34. A loading pallet according to claim 31, wherein the spacers (4) are detachably connected to the load surface profiles (1), the holding-together profiles (2) and the profiles (5) with bearing surfaces (6).
 35. A loading pallet according to claim 34, wherein the spacers (4) are each detachably connected to the load surface profiles (1), the holding-together profiles (2) and the profiles (5) with bearing surfaces (6) by a bolted connection composed of a bolt (7) running through the respective spacer (4) and relating load surface profile (1), holding-together profile (2) and a profile (5) with bearing surface (6), and of a nut (8) which can be screwed firmly at the threaded free end of the bolt.
 36. A loading pallet according to claim 35, wherein the bolted connection abuts against an underside (9) of, and runs through, the profile (5) with bearing surface (6), through the spacer (4) and through the holding-together profile (2) and the load surface profile (1) of the upper portion and abuts against an upper side of (10) of the load surface profile.
 37. A loading pallet according to claim 27, wherein the load surface profiles (1), the holding-together profiles (2) and the reinforcing profiles (11) have the same cross-sectional shape.
 38. A loading pallet according to claim 20, wherein the loading pallet is provided with brackets (14) for a pallet surround (15).
 39. A loading pallet according to claim 20, wherein spacers (4) situated at least at the corners of the pallet are so configured that they are readable in automatic warehouses for loading pallets. 